This book was a rollarcoaster for me. Parts of it had me shouting Amen! and pumping my arms in the air. Things were being said that really needed saying.
I feel I should tell you I'm not on board the Post Modern (PoMo) Bandwagon (whatever that is). I'm really not into labels. I agree with some aspects, disagree with others, and refuse to be categorized as far as that goes. I'm not even a fence sitter, more like an all out rebel.
Still, things were said in this book that really needed to be said (and heard).
Then I hit some hard bits. A Passing phrase that threw up doubt. A chapter that gave me weeks of struggling.
My first reaction was to (figuratively) throw my hands in the air and say, "Well, that's it. It's over now." (I think you'd be surprised how few issues I had with the book though). ButGod challanged me. Does one error here, he asked me, negate the truth elsewhere in the book? Why can't the 90% truth leave room for grace for the small error instead of the small error corrupting the bulk? Even the author himself admits, from the outset that not all his beliefs are going to be right.
I forced myself to think about the issues in question. To ask myself why I believe what I do on these issues. To re-read what he had written - had I misunderstood (I found in one major area I had - at least in part). And even though I'd say I'm not in complete agreement with his philosophies I assure you - I have considered and developed my own philosophies one hundred fold because of thisbook. For that I am grateful.
This is not a "read it and accept it" book. I think anyone who read it and simply loved it or hated it (especially hted it) missed the author's purpose. This book invites you to think about the doctrin you believe and the Jesus you follow, and forces you to consider the ones you have rejected. This to me is the beginning of the path to unity (not complete agreement but peace and acceptence) - with many parenthesis and some laughs along the way.
If you are comfy in your status quo you'll hate this book. If you enjoy a challange... you may still hate it - but you won't regret reading it.